Annual Report of the

Independent Monitoring Board at

HMP Springhill

for reporting year 1st January – 31st December 2019

Published May 2020

Monitoring fairness and respect for people in custody

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Topic Page

1 Statutory role 3

2 Executive summary 3

3 Description of the establishment 5

4 Safety 6

5 Equality and fairness 8

6 Segregation/Care and separation unit 10

7 Accommodation (including communication) 10

8 Healthcare (including mental health and social care) 12

9 Education and other activities 13

10 Work, vocational training and employment 15

11 Resettlement preparation 16

12 The work of the IMB 19

13 Applications to the IMB 20

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1 STATUTORY ROLE

The Prison Act 1952 requires every prison to be monitored by an independent Board, appointed by the Secretary of State from members of the community in which the prison or centre is situated

The Board is specifically charged to:

(1) satisfy itself as to the humane and just treatment of those held in custody within its prison, and the range and adequacy of the programmes preparing them for release

(2) inform promptly the Secretary of State, or any official to whom he has delegated authority as it judges appropriate, of any concern it has

(3) report annually to the Secretary of State as to how well the prison has met the standards and requirements placed on it, and what impact these have on those in its custody.

To enable the Board to carry out these duties effectively, its members have right of access to every prisoner and every part of the prison, and also to the prison’s records.

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2.1 Introduction

This report presents the findings of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Springhill for the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Evidence is taken from observations made on visits, scrutiny of records and data, informal contact with prisoners and staff, and attending to prisoner applications.

2.2 Main judgments 2.2.1 Are prisoners treated fairly?

The prisoners are treated fairly. The new release on temporary licence (ROTL) policy offers opportunities both for prisoners to get out to work earlier, and also challenges for staff to manage expectations about an individual’s risk assessment. Lodgers/transfers from HMP Springhill to HMP Grendon (see 5.2) would benefit from a policy that would help resolve issues such as property (see 5.2.3). The diversity statistics analysis, which is split between Springhill and Grendon, remains unclear as these prisoners still feature in Grendon statistics (see 5.3).

2.2.2 Are prisoners treated humanely?

Low figures from safer custody on assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) documents, self-harm, and violence (see 4.1) are reassuring. However, increases over 12 months both in actual finds and in intelligence reports for drugs and mobile phones (see 4.4 and 4.5) are of concern, together with the potential for increases in bullying and debt. Living standards on the huts have been improved, with refurbishments to all showers and a programme of painting around the huts using skills from the camp (see 7.1.2). The Board, however, still considers these improvements to be short-term fixes rather than a longer-term solution to make living standards fit for purpose.

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2.2.3 Are prisoners prepared well for their release?

Changes to rules on ROTL, introduced in June 2019, have had a positive uplift on the number of prisoners going out to work (see 10.2) and in improving their employability outcomes on release. The Board is alert to some potential unintended consequences of the new ROTL policy, such as less time spent in college or in training which might be more beneficial for an individual’s rehabilitation (see 11.1.3). On release, there is a conflict between the data on accommodation, and education, training and employment (ETE) supplied by the local community rehabilitation company (CRC) and data supplied post-release (see 11.4.1 and 11.4.2), which confuses the measure of outcomes. Absconds and failure to return are down 12% on 2018 (see 4.6). Transfers out of the prison have increased by 18%, and the Board notes the disproportionate number of life-sentenced prisoners and those serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) for both absconds and transfers (see 4.7.1).

2.3 Main areas for development 2.3.1 TO THE MINISTER

The Board welcomes the improvements made to the living environment (see 7.1.2) but these do not tackle the issues around basic infrastructure, which requires considerably more investment to create a decent living and working environment.

2.3.2 TO THE PRISON SERVICE

The Board is pleased to note the increase in the number of prisoners out on ROTL (see 10.1). The prison will, at some stage, have to restrict this number, in order to run essential services. The Board feels that a prisoner’s qualification for ROTL should not be restricted by local resource levels, and that resources to support prisoners getting out on ROTL should be increased proportionately. The Board welcomes the data provided by the local CRC on prisoners’ accommodation and ETE destinations on discharge but this is at odds with the data provided post-release, and on a monthly analysis are potentially unreliable (see paragraphs 11.4.1 and 11.4.2). Clarity on the figures supplied to the prison would make the Board’s judgements more effective.

2.3.3 TO THE GOVERNOR

The protocol for transferring prisoners from Springhill to Grendon continues to raise issues (see paragraph 5.2.3). A new policy governing all aspects of transfers was discussed but not delivered during this reporting year.

2.4 Improvements since last report:

The Board welcomes further improvements to living areas, particularly the showers, and is pleased that these improvements have been achieved through use of prisoners with the appropriate skills. The Board welcomes the splitting of diversity statistics between Grendon and Springhill but notes that the issue of Springhill lodgers (see paragraph 5.2) still continues to confuse accurate analysis.

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3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT

3.1 HMP Springhill is jointly managed with HMP Grendon (located next door). A single

Board monitors both prisons. 3.2 Springhill is an open establishment (category D) and accommodates up to 335 adult

men. Springhill residents are those who are considered trustworthy in open conditions, including those coming to the end of their long sentences, as well as those serving shorter sentences. There is no segregation unit at the establishment.

3.3 One of the primary aims of the prison is rehabilitation and resettlement. All prisoners who are not serving a short sentence are encouraged to join a resettlement scheme that allows them to carry out work for the local community, and to seek work experience and full-time work for the last months of their sentence.

3.4 Prisoners are accommodated in 13 huts. In 10 of the huts, they mostly live two to a

room. Each hut has a communal lounge, kitchen, showers and separate toilets. There are three huts with 40 single rooms each – these are allocated according to a structured incentive system. There is a single 16-bed unit, which is dedicated to those with substance misuse support needs. Office accommodation and the Springs restaurant (used by visitors and staff from Springhill and Grendon) are in the ‘Big House’.

3.5 Certain facilities – for example, the dental suite in Grendon, offender management unit (OMU), business hub and security department – serve both prisons. However, the two prisons cater for different categories of prisoner and have very different regimes.

3.6 Care UK provides healthcare services under contract with the local healthcare commissioning body (Health and Justice Commissioning NHS England, Thames Valley Area Team). Nurse clinics include well-man, diabetes, asthma and immunisations. There are visiting podiatry (premier treatment) and physiotherapy services. Mental health in-reach is provided by the Barnet mental health team. Dental (Time for Teeth) and optician services (Panoptical) provide regular clinics.

3.7 The drug and alcohol recovery team (DART) is subcontracted by Care UK and delivers substance misuse treatment services.

3.8 Milton Keynes College provides education services.

3.9 MTCnovo provides resettlement services under contract with the Ministry of Justice. It

operates in Springhill through the Thames Valley CRC.

3.10 Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) has taken over the maintenance and facilities management services from Carillion.

4 SAFETY

4.1 The Board considers the prison to be safe, with low levels of violence and self-harm

(see 4.2 and 4.3). However, the threat level (as recorded by the prison) associated with mobile phones remained a ‘significant risk’ for all 12 months of the year (see 4.5),

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drugs were a ‘significant risk’ for 11 months (see 4.4) and absconds (see 4.6) were a ‘serious risk’ for two months and a ‘significant risk’ for seven months.

4.1.2 In January 2019, there was a violence reduction and debt management survey, with 106 responses. To the question ‘how safe do you feel?’, 83% responded ‘always’, a further 14% ‘often’ and 2% ‘never’. Where the threat of violence existed, prisoners highlighted debt and drugs as the main issues.

4.1.3 Security: In November, the prison scored three out of four, amber/green, on a pilot

audit for the open estate.

4.2 ACCTs: The number of opened ACCTs remain low, at six for the year. It is a good

indication that the prison has the confidence in care to be able to support prisoners on ACCTs.

4.3 Self-harm: The number of self-harm incidents was 0 for a second year running. There

were 10 assaults/fights (compared with eight in 2018). There were 174 proven adjudications (214 for 2018).

4.3.1 Challenge, support and intervention plans were introduced from July 2019, and three

plans were opened to support prisoners reach their goals through non-violent behaviour.

4.3.2 Night state: a random date selected by the Board in October 2019 revealed that only

40% of staff (including communications staff in Grendon) had received all six modules of suicide and self-harm training. Managers are actively looking to cover these training gaps.

4.4 Drugs: As an open prison with no perimeter fence and a public footpath over part of

the estate, Springhill is faced with a major challenge to achieve a drug-free environment. An increase in the level of ROTL adds to the risk.

4.4.1 There were 488 drug-related intelligence reports (IRs) during the reporting year

(compared with 399 for 2018), and 84 finds (against 69 for 2018). For the past two years, finds are at 17% of IRs.

4.4.2 Cannabis appears to be the drug of choice (in May 2019, 50% of IRs related to the use

of cannabis), but there are also IRs on cocaine, steroids and amphetamines on camp.

4.4.3 For suspicion testing, the Board notes that out of 45 requests for tests in 2019, 30 (66%) were completed, resulting in 12 positives (40% of those tested). This is a welcome improvement on the 62% of completions on suspicion tests in 2018. The percentages of positive tests from risk and random testing were 20% and 7%, respectively.

4.4.4 The programme of compact-based drug testing has been extended to include all prisoners as a support for avoiding substance abuse, associated debt and the pressure to abscond. The aim is to test those who are more at risk, including drivers and prisoners on Piggot Hut (the drug support hut), monthly, and everyone else every two months initially, and then moving to monthly. For the reporting year, there were 155 tests (61% for those on Piggot hut, 30% for drivers and 9% for others). Time and staffing constraints have so far prevented a significant increase in the overall number of tests conducted.

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4.4.5 Support is being offered by DART and healthcare staff to help in training in the use of naloxone (a drug which can help with opioid overdose), and for the drug to be prescribed for those most at risk of abuse on release, who can, in turn, train family members to support them. One prisoner was released in December 2019 with this support.

4.4.6 The psychosocial team ran a substance misuse awareness event in September 2019,

with approximately 80 prisoners attending, and the feedback was positive. The event was partially in response to the prison’s wish to support education about drugs on camp and the link to absconding.

4.5 Mobile phones and accessories: There were 102 finds of mobile phones, plus 49 of

accessories during the reporting year (compared with 70 and 27, respectively, for 2018 – a increase of 55%). Some of these finds in the reporting year were attributable to the use of the mobile detector. The number of IRs for mobile phones increased from 250 to 445 (78%) over the year.

4.6 Absconds/failure to return on ROTL: During the year, there were nine absconds and five failures to return, which is a welcome reversal of the upward trend of the previous two years and is nearer the 2016 levels of eight absconds and one failure to return. As a proportion of the total number of successful ROTLs in a year, these figures are very low, but they have a disproportionate effect.

4.6.1 IPP and life-sentenced prisoners made up 19% of the total Springhill population but

50% of the absconders and failures to return in 2019. Outcomes for absconders are rarely good (with almost all being recaptured quickly and likely to face additional time in the closed estate), and this evidence is used to discourage others from absconding. From May 2019, the prison introduced support in the form of a prisoner-in-crisis meeting for potentially vulnerable men following a trigger such as a mandatory drug testing failure or a parole knock-back for an IPP prisoner.

4.7 There were 60 ROTL failures (for example, prisoners not complying with the terms of

their licence) over the reporting year, which is a low percentage (0.2%) of the overall total number of ROTL releases (compared with 52 for 2018, or 0.2% of the total).

4.7.1 A total of 105 prisoners were transferred out of the establishment over the reporting

year, compared with 89 and 75 in 2018 and 2017, respectively. In 2019, 25% of transfers involved lifers/IPP prisoners, compared with 29% in 2018, illustrating the ongoing difficulties that this vulnerable group faces in adjusting to open conditions.

4.8 A new space has been created for prisoners to make private telephone calls. The Red Phone Box suite also has advice on keeping safe and how to reduce violence, as well as an amnesty box (a smashed mobile phone has since been left there).

5 EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS

5.1 Visits: in August, a survey confirmed that the experience for most visitors is good.

Below is an extract of some responses.

Question Always Sometimes Often Rarely

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Atmosphere in centre is relaxed and inviting 62% 16% 22% 0% Atmosphere in visits hall feels relaxed 71% 13% 16% 0% I feel treated like a human being by staff 62% 21% 17% 0% Prison staff are polite and courteous 46% 21% 29% 4% Staff are friendly and approachable 67% 8% 21% 4% Visitors are made to feel welcome 62% 17% 21% 0%

Following on from some comments from the survey, hot food has been reinstated at weekend visits.

5.1.2 Following a December 2019 audit, ‘Family and significant other measurement’, the establishment scored 241 out of a possible 272. ‘Fully met’ scores included:

• Family learning provision • Access to family-centred events • Family agenda promoted in key workers role.

5.1.3 The three children’s days were popular, and the December day included a production

of the Christmas pantomime by the Kestrel Theatre, complete with donkey. Presents to all 20 children from their dads were distributed by Santa.

5.1.4 The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) is contracted to supply a play worker for

visits. However, support for weekend visits has been patchy, although now a member is employed for one Sunday each week. The play area will include a new climbing frame, and the Woodland Walk will have two new ponds (see 10.7).

5.1.5 There were no specific visits days for lifers during this reporting year, following the

poor take-up last year. 5.1.6 The introduction of the new ROTL rules has been accompanied by a reduction in the

number of all visits (on one Friday in September 2019, only five were booked, and 30 were booked for the following weekend) as more prisoners are getting out earlier on ROTL.

5.2 ‘Lodgers/transfers’: There is no segregation unit at the establishment (see 3.2). If

prisoners need to be transferred to closed conditions at short notice (either for their own safety or because there is a security threat if they remain in open conditions), they may be moved to Grendon and both prisons refer to these individuals as ‘Springhill lodgers’ or, from this year, ‘transfers’, which is meant more accurately to define their status.

5.2.1 There were 43 transfers from Springhill to Grendon in 2019, compared with 30 in

2018. Of these, 14 (32%) were lifers or IPP prisoners.

5.2.3 The Board has continued to find issues with missing property and late access to property at Grendon. These issues are recognised by managers (a governor’s response to a property query from a rota report in February 2019 was: ‘I would agree in general that the process for managing the property of a Springhill prisoner being moved into Grendon as a lodger is far from satisfactory’); however, a revised protocol, covering all aspects of a prisoner’s transfer, has yet to materialise, and this continues to result in issues for some prisoners (see also the IMB 2019 annual report for Grendon).

5.3 Analysis of diversity statistics: The Board welcomes the fact that these are now split

between Springhill and Grendon. However, there is a separate problem with the recording of diversity statistics for ROTL; the numbers recorded were based on the

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total number of movements rather than individuals. This potentially distorts the true picture, so that the prison does not know if there really is a disproportionate number of black and Asian prisoners on ROTL, as it appears from the data. This problem has been identified but not yet fully resolved.

5.3.1 One particular area of concern has been the continuing over-representation of black

prisoners among adjudications charged and adjudications proven, and a corresponding under-representation of white prisoners. There is also a high rate of adjudications charged among Muslim prisoners, and rates of adjudications charged and proven among the category ‘other religions’ are very high. It is speculated that these high rates for Muslims and other religions are a knock-on effect from the large number of black prisoners charged, but there is no evidential basis for this speculation as there is no statistical breakdown showing, for example, how many of the Muslim prisoners charged are also black. These out-of-range statistics are being investigated.

5.3.2 Although the diversity and equality team is scrupulous in identifying areas of concern,

delivering sustainable and corrective actions is a tougher challenge. During the reporting year, equalities representatives put on a cultural awareness and unconscious bias event for prisoners and staff. Feedback from staff was excellent, and the Board welcomes the direct involvement of prisoners in ensuring better staff equality awareness.

5.4 Discrimination incident report forms (DIRFs): Six DIRFs were submitted between

April and December 2019, and all were answered on time. 5.5 Disability: in November 2019, 66 men were identified as having a disability. In 2018,

the Board reported that the idea of a buddy system was being considered. This morphed into possible ‘care certificates’ in association with the local council, with online training, and this is still under discussion. The process does seem to have been moving very slowly, and the Board looks forward to improved provision for prisoners with disabilities.

5.6 As also noted last year, the chaplaincy, supported by the kitchen, celebrated an

impressive array of multi-faith/cultural events. These events promote an appreciation of differing cultures.

5.7 Complaints: The Board samples complaints for the timeliness and appropriateness of responses, and is generally satisfied; however, much time and energy is spent on issues which could, in the Board’s judgement, be dealt with at source or with an informed conversation with a personal or residential officer. Complaints made about healthcare (but not using the healthcare complaint process) can get lost or not answered. For complaints sent out to other prisons, it is clear from responses that there remains a general inconsistency in the quality of responses across the estate.

5.7.1 Complaints over 12 months have increased by 4%, with property issues accounting for

29% of all complaints. Complaints about staff have remained low, at 0.2% of the total.

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Selected items 2019 % of all complaints

2018 2017

Property 126 29% 139 63

Canteen 90 20% 43 33

OMU/ROTL 45 10% 38 21

Staff 10 0.2% 13 12

Total number of complaints

439* 421* 304*

*Figures are before deductions for complaints sent to another prison. 5.7.2 There have been particular issues during this reporting year with complaints to DHL

about canteen, with many discrepancies (one prisoner received a jigsaw puzzle instead of bananas!), and delayed responses for credits and queries. In October 2019, the Board reported that there were 11 outstanding complaints, of which 10 were unanswered, with one complaint 165 days old. A meeting with DHL has taken place to address these issues.

5.8 Applications to the Board (13) have remained at the same level as the previous year

(see section 13). 6 SEGREGATION/CARE AND SEPARATION UNIT

As previously noted (see 3.2), there is no segregation unit at Springhill .

7 ACCOMMODATION (INCLUDING COMMUNICATION)

7.1 Previous annual reports have highlighted the very poor quality of the physical

environment at Springhill, which the Board considers can only be alleviated with substantial rebuilding, principally of the accommodation huts, although education provision (for example, in the prison information and communications academies, carpentry, and gas huts) is also likely to be affected by a general deterioration in the buildings.

7.1.2 However, the Board welcomes the use of 11 prisoners who are qualified in painting,

plumbing, and electrical, and carpentry repairs. All showers have now been refurbished, and prisoners have been able to paint their rooms. This benefits both the physical aspect of the camp and also the sense of ownership among prisoners.

7.1.3 Boot racks and shower mats have been provided, and common room chairs have been upgraded. Winners of the monthly cleanest hut competition are recognised with a goodie bag.

7.1.4 Less welcome has been the ongoing presence of rats in some huts, and, throughout the

summer of 2019, Board members reported waste not being correctly dealt with, allowing foxes and birds to open exposed bin liners.

7.1.5 Floor buffers are not fit for purpose.

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7.1.6 General levels of decency on the huts can be variable, but failures do not appear to be picked up effectively from residential patrols or decency checks.

7.1.7 Single rooms are at a premium, and are allocated mostly to prisoners who are out at work, or with a disability. Some prisoners apply on arrival for a single room on Rookery hut on medical grounds which do not meet the healthcare department’s criteria for such a recommendation. However, waking a ‘pad’ mate with frequent trips to the toilet recess, for example, is also not ideal.

7.1.8 As a result of pot holes, in July 2019, a prisoner broke his ankle and made a successful compensation claim. Following the incident, all pot holes were marked but the majority were not repaired until the end of November.

7.2 Food: There have been no applications to the Board about the food served over the

reporting year, and only nine prison complaints (2% of the total); this is indicative of the continuing high standard in food provision. For the first five months of the reporting year, there were 57 food comments recorded in the dining room log, and the majority were complimentary – for example: ‘this is how food should be made’. There were no entries for the rest of the reporting year.

7.2.1 As a result of the recommendation by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, in their

December 2017 inspection report, for more self-catering facilities, prisoners can now take food out of the dining hall, and in June 2019 about 60% were doing this. The Board will monitor capacity issues for refrigerators in the huts and the increased use of microwave ovens.

7.2.2 The provision of some food as part of a weekend pack in the morning (for example, a pasty to be reheated) has been problematic on food hygiene grounds, and the issue has been exacerbated as the numbers going out on ROTL and of full-time weekend workers have increased. From November 2019, prisoners returning from ROTL over the weekend have had access to a frozen meal from reception.

7.2.3 For 10 men with particular needs (including mental health issues), twice-weekly packs are made up for them. This is evidence of good care but staff are aware that this provision is open to abuse, and for some prisoners not necessarily preparing them for release.

7.2.4 The camp makes good use of the polytunnels to supply fresh food to both Springhill

and Grendon, including tomatoes, French beans and peppers. Cultivating these is good activity for a few prisoners, helps with the food budget and gives prisoners fresh vegetables. It is a shame that there is insufficient budget to heat the tunnels during cooler months.

8 HEALTHCARE (INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE)

8.1 There are currently no healthcare meetings with prisoners, but a monthly patient

evening is planned for 2020. In response to a survey, in which prisoners have said that

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they do not receive their GP appointment slips in time to make alternative arrangements, healthcare staff now book all routine appointments three days after the application. Responses to patient experience (with a 6% response rate from the total population between July and September 2019) were positive across all services.

8.2 The quarterly meetings that were planned last year in order to improve

communication with the Board, and to help us to monitor healthcare activities, have not taken place.

8.3 Against a target of 10%, the percentage of ‘did not attend’ (DNA) appointments was

9% in April, 11% in May, 12% in June, 6% in July, 12% in August and 13% in September 2019. This is a particular problem for prisoners on ROTL, who are not keen to take time off for GP appointments. There is now a Wednesday evening clinic to help with this.

8.4 Healthcare complaints: There were 18 complaints and concerns up to the end of

September 2019. Five of the complaints referred to access to single rooms on medical grounds not being supported.

8.5 Dentistry: Five additional dental sessions were laid on, to clear a backlog earlier in the year. This reduced the previous six weeks breach of waiting time from 29% to 12% by September.

8.6 ‘Point of care testing’ is now being offered to help reduce the number of blood-borne

viruses, and for Care UK to eliminate hepatitis C in all prisons by 2022. 41% of the

current population has been screened.

8.7 A flu outbreak that occurred during the reporting year was handled well, and all but eight of the eligible men from both Springhill and Grendon have been vaccinated.

8.8 Before discharge, prisoners now have access to ‘Socrates’, an app designed for

smartphones which signposts patients to their local healthcare services on release and is able to upload health records (in case the local service operates with different software). Discussions with the security department about giving prisoners access to smartphones are ongoing. On average, only 3% of prisoners are activating the app on release.

8.9 Social care: there were six referrals for during the reporting year, of which three were

rejected. Two prisoners required hand rails and shower stools according to social services reports dated in February which were not fully in place until May, with one of them fitted two days after a fall. The hut most suitable for supporting these individuals (Rookery) has thin walls, making it difficult to mount supporting fittings.

8.10 DART continues to support prisoners with addictions, and in December 2019 had 80 individuals (both active and inactive) registered. DART put on a drug awareness event in September, which was attended by 80 men.

8.10.1 On a rota in July 2019, a prisoner on Pigott hut spoke enthusiastically about DART and

said that nearly all the prisoners residing on this specialist hut were focused on resolving their drug issues in preparation for release.

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8.11 On an August 2019 rota, prison and healthcare staff expressed concern that new prisoners often arrive on a Friday, and that any mental health and/or serious medical conditions are rarely identified in advance of a prisoner’s arrival.

9 EDUCATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

9.1

Key indicators 2018/19* 2017/18 2016/17 Allocations against planned classes

85% 93% 89%

Efficiency against planned classes

78% 87% 84%

Attendance against planned classes

92% 93% 94%

Hours of absences 644 (80)

1,613 (134)

1,448 (120)

Hours of interruptions 546 (68)

1,435 (119)

1,624 (135)

*The college year moved to April to March. Figures for 2018/19 are for only eight months of the year. Figures in brackets are an average per month, to make comparisons more meaningful.

9.1.1 Allocations have been adversely hit by the lack of a carpentry tutor and an English and mathematics tutor. Both interruptions and absences have improved, primarily due to better scheduling of healthcare and DART appointments outside college hours.

9.2 Comparison of course achievements over three academic years:

All courses for year 2018/19 2017/18 2016/17 Completed 244

(30*) 532 (44)

1,388 (115)

Achieved 238 519 1,346 Success overall 96% 96% 97%

* Figures in brackets are an average per month.

The above figures for the year 2018/19 do not include 12 courses, for 400 prisoners, of the non-accredited ‘enabler of learning’, and ‘engagement and progression of learning’ programmes, including 174 prisoners on the Construction Skills Certification Scheme, 109 on the ‘across curriculum’ course, and 57 on barista courses. The Board welcomes the fact that all courses will be accredited in the new curriculum, as this is more pertinent to future employment.

9.3 The college recognises that the new ROTL rules could potentially have a negative effect

on the take-up, especially for the longer courses such as plumbing. Evidence of this will be monitored in the take-up of allocations in the next reporting year.

9.4 A prison-led needs analysis carried out during the reporting year had only 10

responses from prisoners. This level of response makes it harder to assess whether what is on offer actually meets the needs of prisoners on release. The college’s own

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analysis identified the need for a painting and decorating course. A level 3 course in book-keeping is planned for 2020.

9.5 Distance learning: in October 2019, there were 21prisoners enrolled in the Open

University, three at Stonebridge and five with other providers. Of the 10 free places at Oxford Brookes University on offer, eight have been taken up.

9.6 The gym has, again, offered a series of healthy living courses, including level 2 diet and

nutrition courses, with eight enrolled. There was a new level 2 gym instructor course, with one prisoner gaining employment on release. It is surprising that this course is not more popular, given its potential employability outcome.

9.7 The non-college qualifications on offer include level 2 NPTC mower, level 1 paving,

forklift truck driving, and waste management. 9.8 In addition to the current training on offer, ‘Dumper Truck’, ‘Gas Safe’ (cost £5,000)

courses, and also the mentoring services programme (free) are planned for 2020. 9.9 The kitchen has been unable to offer level 2 food hygiene courses owing to low staffing

levels but six prisoners have completed the national vocational qualification diploma in kitchen services.

9.10 Library: Monthly membership of the library has been steady throughout the reporting

year in the low 90%s. Loans of reading materials have increased over the year (224 in January to 539 in November 2019), and of DVDs, CDs and games have averaged just over 1,000 a month. On average, 20 Prison Service Instructions are accessed per month, via four computers.

9.10.1 The Reading Ahead Challenge continues on a rolling basis, with 35 prisoners reading

six books. 9.10.2 The Storybook Dads scheme has been popular, with 15 prisoners in the reporting year

taking advantage of being able to record themselves reading a book on a CD for their children.

9.10.3 The library runs a popular quiz night twice a month, and there is a reading group of

about 12 prisoners that meets monthly. 9.10.4 The library allows mentors to deliver private, one-to-one support for poor readers as

part of the Shannon Trust reading plan. 10 WORK, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT

10.1 There were 33,927 ROTL events during the reporting year, compared with 32,322 for

2018. These figures include all ROTLs, not just those on ‘purposeful activity’. The new ROTL policy came into effect in July 2019, and numbers have increased by 4% over this period compared with last year.

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10.2 The graph below shows purposeful activity by type for the past six months and a

comparison with last year.

Of note is the marked increase in full-time work since 2018, set against reductions in all other areas. On a daily basis, this means that – for example, in November 2019 – approximately 62 prisoners are out on full-time work, 22 on community work, seven on training, five as drivers, five in education, six on resettlement overnight release (ROR) and two on other resettlement day release (RDR). There is an expectation that all prisoners will complete some community work (except where they are shortly to be released or where they would otherwise lose a job on release) as well as completing educational and training programmes that will serve them better on release (see also 10.5).

10.2.1 Inevitably, there will have to be a cap on the number of prisoners going out each day, in order to keep basic services running on camp.

10.3 Staffing levels in activities were tight over the summer of 2019. This affected

assessment clearance on work placements (in August, there were at least 18 outstanding, and the backlog was later cleared) and caused subsequent delays to some prisoners getting out to work during this period.

10.4 Contact with local employers has included ‘Opportunity for Change’ (construction

training geared towards prisoners), additional work with ‘Chef Direct’ in Didcot, and jobs for fitters and counter staff with ‘Greenplant’ (a plant and tool hire company).

10.5 Activities staff are trying to steer prisoners away from agency work, where the wages are attractive but the work is inconsistent (leaving them idle on camp) and does not necessarily lead to work on release.

10.6 In addition to the normal work activity on camp, the Board has monitored some

excellent work in the recycling unit, where broken furniture has been repaired and pallets reused to make tables and boot racks. An impressive wood/metal globe has been created for the Buddha Grove. At a rehabilitation culture day in December 2019, the unit had a pop-up shop of their work for sale.

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10.7 Land-Based Activities (LBA) is partnering with Fresh Water Habitats and Natural England to develop two new pond sites. In addition, 20 new trees have been donated, as well as a large quantity of bulbs to enhance the Woodland Walk for families. As well as improving the local environment, the work will help the prisoners gain additional skills and experience.

11 RESETTLEMENT PREPARATION

11.1 Changes to the national ROTL policy from June 2019 have affected outcomes for

prisoners. The removal of the three-month lay-down period means that opportunities for prisoners to earn more money at an earlier stage before release, as well as building up their employability profile, are now increased. Prisoners will also be able to apply for ROR once four unaccompanied RDRs have successfully been completed.

11.1.2 These changes come with an increase in expectations which will require ongoing

management as every prisoner’s risk profile will still determine the date of their first ROTL. It is also possible that the OMU will not be able to keep pace with the increased workload and that the camp will not be able to run without a functional quota of prisoners to support essential services. Restricting ROTL numbers on these grounds is understandable but resources should be available to support as many prisoners that are eligible to go out on ROTL.

11.1.3 The lure of potential faster access to full-time work has other potential unintended

consequences, including: • a reduced take-up of college and other educational courses, both on and off

camp • a reduced take-up of community work • a reduced take-up of orderly roles, such as Listeners, on camp (for example, the

college orderly role was vacant for four months, until December) • a reduced take-up on camp of meetings, forums and events • a reduced number of visits (see 5.1.6) • an increase in DNAs for health appointments (see 8.3).

11.2 Contact with offender supervisors: Over 12 months, an average of 89% of restricted

prisoners were seen within two weeks of arrival, with a further 72% having a record of a monthly contact. The average for standard prisoners being seen within two weeks of arrival (from January to September 2019) was 79%. The number of prisoners with an out-of-date offender assessment system (OASys) assessment in December 2019 was eight, although this has not delayed any ROTL.

11.2.1 In order to improve communication on sequencing and sentence planning, activities and OMU staff have had sporadic meetings, which they are planning to make more regular. Making sure that prisoners are appropriately placed in work, according to their individual risk assessment, remains a challenge.

11.2.2 The OMU has been promoting the Sycamore Tree programme with Prison Fellowship,

and 23 prisoners are on the waiting list for February/March 2020, provided that

facilitators can be recruited. There is also a monthly restorative justice teleconference,

and the Money Matters course is offered bi-monthly, with 12 prisoners completing the

September and November courses during the reporting year.

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11.3 Gable Resettlement Service (formerly Pathways Enhanced Resettlement Service) has been available since April 2019, aimed at prisoners with a high risk of reoffending. Thirteen prisoners are taking advantage of the service.

11.4 Delivery of resettlement pathway needs: Below, the Board notes some of the key pathway needs delivered by the CRC.

11.4.1 Accommodation outcomes on release:

Releases 2019 2018 Settled accommodation 206 270 Transient accommodation 12 11 No fixed abode/unknown 11 1 % of men in settled accommodation

91 96

The above data is supplied by the CRC at Springhill (based on self-disclosure by prisoners prior to their release), which continues to report good outcomes. But data gathered nationally from the probation service 24 hours post-release shows that only 63.8% of prisoners released from April to November 2019 were in settled accommodation. There is doubt about the accuracy of this data but it is currently the only available evidence to contrast with the self-declared data supplied at Springhill prior to release.

11.4.2 Employment outcomes on release:

The above data is supplied by the CRC at Springhill (based on self-disclosure by prisoners on release), which continues to report good outcomes. But data supplied to the prison from the probation service six weeks post-release shows that only 32% of prisoners released from April to November 2019 were in ETE. There is doubt about the accuracy of this data on a national level, but it is currently the only available evidence to contrast with the self-declared data declared at Springhill prior to release.

11.4.3 In one sample month (October 2019) of job outcomes, planned employment included a

chef, electrician, barber, labourer, barista and HGV driver. 11.4.4 Money management: The CRC facilitated 229 appointments to open new bank

accounts (compared with 189 in 2018) and 64 credit checks with Experian (compared with 111 in 2018).

11.4.5 The CRC assesses job readiness using four levels (gold, silver, bronze and not job

ready). Over the reporting year, 128 (56%) prisoners were gold, and 34 (15%) ‘not job ready’.

11.4.6 Prisoners give feedback prior to their release, and, over a six month period nearly

100% responded as being ‘very satisfied’ with the quality of service from the CRC,

Type Releases 2019

% against releases 2019

% against releases 2018

Employed 170 74 73 Unemployed 33 14 16 Full-/part-time education

12 5 3

Retired/carer 12 5 8

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including comments such as: ‘Useful with enquiries I had with housing and finances – very helpful staff and good at their jobs’ (in June 2019); ‘staff were really helpful with everything’ (in September 2019); ‘helped me get BASS housing’ (in October 2019); and ‘DWP were really helpful and great; we can access that support through CRC’ (in November 2019). If there are any negative comments, they are not published.

11.5 Although there is good evidence that there are opportunities on offer across a wide

range of educational and vocational activities, the Board struggles to monitor levels of meaningful progression of prisoners from their arrival to their release, and how progression is linked to their sentence plan, especially for those most in need of rehabilitation (as opposed to those who, on release, will have their accommodation and ETE outcomes sorted).

11.6 The discharge meeting, designed as a check on prisoners who might need multi-agency

support before release, has not functioned properly for a second year running, but this

is being addressed.

11.7 Enabling environment: There is good work ongoing to evidence a culture of change (see points below), but it is harder to measure how attitudes are changing. This is particularly true of new arrivals with preconceived attitudes about Springhill (believing, for example, that making complaints jeopardises progression).

11.7.1 The sports field has been well used in this reporting year, to help promote interaction with the local community. For example: • The ‘parkrun’ continues for its second year, with about 15 prisoners and locals

participating. • A five-a-side football tournament is held between prisoners and partner

organisations. • In August 2019, prisoners fielded a team against a local club (Steeple Claydon TC),

and in November 2019 there was a match against visiting HMP Hollesley Bay. 11.7.2 A rehabilitative culture event in December 2019 included a bake-off, with proceeds

from cake sales going to a local charity, and an art competition, as well as prisoner–staff games.

11.7.3 Monthly celebration events for education achievements and other certificates also now

include prisoners who have clear results from mandatory drug testing (46 were awarded in August 2019).

11.7.4 In regard to pay, the Board welcomes the governor’s local initiative to consider applications to waive the victim’s levy for the final three months before release, to help prisoners with a particular need to build up savings prior to release.

11.7.5 Managers acknowledge that improvements can be made at reception for new arrivals.

Currently, questionnaires are completed publicly, and there are no spaces for private conversations between staff and new arrivals. This is not helped by the poor layout of furniture in the reception area. Improvements to the latter are still to be delivered.

11.8 Community council: The council is a good forum for staff and prisoners to demonstrate an enabling environment in action. However, all too often, issues tend to reflect members’ particular issues, rather than those of the broader community. Communication from prisoners to council members and then back to prisoners struggles to be effective, and suffers from the churn of members. The council will reformat in 2020 to address these issues.

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12 THE WORK OF THE IMB

BOARD STATISTICS

Recommended complement of Board members 14

Number of trained Board members at the start of the reporting period 7

Number of trained Board members at the end of the reporting period

(includes two members leaving, one new member joining and completing their training)

6

Total number of visits to the establishment 186

(225 in 2018)

Total number of segregation reviews attended N/A

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13 APPLICATIONS TO THE IMB

Code Subject 2019 2018 2017

A Accommodation 0 0 8

B Adjudications 2 3 5

C Equality and diversity, including religion 2 0 0

D Education/employment/training, including incentives and earned privileges

0 0 2

E 1 Family/visits, including mail and telephone 0 0 0

E 2 Finance/pay 1 0 1

F Food/kitchen related 0 0 0

G Health related 1 0 6

H 1 Property (within current establishment) 0 0 2

H 2 Property (during transfer/in another establishment)

3 7 1

H 3 Canteen, facilities, catalogue shopping, Argos 1 0 0

I Sentence related (including home detention

curfew, ROTL, parole, release dates,

recategorisation, etc.)

3 2 7

J Staff/prisoner/detainee concerns, including bullying

0 0 4

K Transfers 0 0 0

L Miscellaneous 0 1 1

TOTAL 13 13 37